Sample Item Set
The Columbian Exchange
Grade 5
Standard 2 – Key Events, Ideas, and People: Students investigate how key events, ideas, and
people influenced the social, economic, and political development of the New World during the Age of
Exploration.
Standard 3 – Key Events, Ideas, and People: Students explain the reasons why different groups
settled in North America and describe the effect of key people, ideas, and events on the growth of the
thirteen colonies.
Standard 4 – Geography Skills: Students use geography skills to analyze and interpret maps and
explain how physical geography influences historical events.
Standard 8 – Resources: Students examine the economic motivations that led to the European
exploration and settlement of the Americas.
GLE 5.2.3 Describe the Spanish conquests in the Americas including the impact on the Aztecs,
Incas, and other indigenous peoples
GLE 5.2.4 Explain the course and consequences of the Columbian Exchange, including its cultural,
ecological, economic, and political impact on Europe, the Americas, and West Africa
GLE 5.3.3 Identify the major European powers that colonized North America and explain their goals,
challenges, and achievements
GLE 5.4.3 Analyze maps from the Age of Exploration to 1763
GLE 5.8.1 Cite evidence of the economic motivations for European exploration and settlement in the
Americas using economic concepts such as supply and demand, and scarcity
Grade 5 Social Studies Sample Item Set
Posted: January 20, 2016
Page 1
Use the three sources and your knowledge of social studies to answer questions 1–4.
Source 1
Claims of European Empires in North America, 1754
Grade 5 Social Studies Sample Item Set
Posted: January 20, 2016
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Source 2
Map of the Columbian Exchange
With European exploration and settlement of the Americas, goods and diseases were carried across
the Atlantic Ocean in both directions. This “Columbian Exchange” soon had global effects.
Grade 5 Social Studies Sample Item Set
Posted: January 20, 2016
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Source 3
The Epidemic in New Spain
From Historia general de las cosas de Nueva España, c. 1575–1580
by Bernardino de Sahagún, Franciscan friar
An epidemic broke out, a sickness of pustules1. It began in the month of Tepeilhuitl. Large bumps
spread on people; some were entirely covered. The victims could no longer walk about, but lay in
their dwellings and sleeping places. When they made a motion, they called out loudly. The pustules
that covered people caused great desolation2; very many people died of them, and many just starved
to death; starvation reigned, and no one took care of others any longer.
1. blisters
2. suffering
Grade 5 Social Studies Sample Item Set
Posted: January 20, 2016
Page 4
Item 1: Multiple Select
As shown in Source 2, many crops were shared between Native Americans and Europeans during
the Columbian Exchange. Which effects did these American crops have on Europeans?
Select the two correct answers.
 A. The crops helped Europeans have more balanced diets.
 B. The crops led to the development of large-scale agriculture in Europe.
 C. The crops increased slavery in Europe.
 D. Wheat crops and rye crops transformed farming methods in Europe.
 E. Different types of crops could be produced on small European farms.
Item 2: Multiple Choice
Based on Source 2 and Source 3, which statement best describes the impact that European
colonists had on Native Americans during the first decades of colonization?
 A. Many Native Americans died from smallpox and other European diseases.
 B. The European colonists helped Native Americans build huge cities and develop their empire.
 C. The majority of Native Americans moved west to create a better life for themselves.
 D. Many Native Americans adopted European farming practices that destroyed their crops.
Grade 5 Social Studies Sample Item Set
Posted: January 20, 2016
Page 5
Item 3: Technology Enhanced Item
Consider the European colonial powers shown in Source 1. What were some of their achievements in
North America?
Match each colonial power with its achievement(s) by dragging each achievement from the list below
into the correct column in the chart. All options will be used.
Tobacco farming
Roman Catholic
religion
Gold and silver
mining
Fur trading
Correct Answers:
British Colonial
Achievements
Tobacco farming
Spanish Colonial
Achievements
Gold and silver
mining
French Colonial
Achievements
Fur trading
Roman Catholic
religion
Grade 5 Social Studies Sample Item Set
Posted: January 20, 2016
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Item 4: Constructed Response
Based on the location of the British colonies shown in Source 1, identify two resources found in these
locations and explain why each resource was in high demand in Europe.
Grade 5 Social Studies Sample Item Set
Posted: January 20, 2016
Page 7
Score Points
2
1
0
Scoring Information
Description
Student’s response correctly identifies two
resources that were found in the British colonies
and correctly explains why each resource was in
high demand in Europe.
Student’s response correctly identifies one
resource that was found in the British colonies and
correctly explains why this resource was in high
demand in Europe.
OR
Student’s response correctly identifies two
resources that were found in the British colonies,
but does not explain why each resource was in
high demand in Europe.
Student’s response does not identify a resource
that was found in the British colonies and does not
explain why it was in high demand in Europe.
Scoring Notes:
Resources found in the British colonies:
• large supply of timber
• large supply of fur-bearing animals
• large supply of farmland
• oceans with a large supply of fish
Reasons these resources were in high demand in Europe:
• Timber was in demand in Europe for the construction of buildings and ships.
• Fur-bearing animals were in demand in Europe for making clothing and hats for wealthy
people.
• Farmland was used to grow crops such as tobacco and potatoes, which became popular in
Europe and were in high demand.
• Oceans had a large supply of fish, which enabled the colonists to export dried fish to Europe
as a food source.
• Accept other reasonable responses.
Grade 5 Social Studies Sample Item Set
Posted: January 20, 2016
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